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LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY 67 |
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filling up the whole river, and extending almost to the Kentucky shore.
Eliza stood, for a moment, contemplating this unfavorable aspect of things, which she saw at once must prevent the usual ferry-boat from running, and then turned into a small public house on the bank, to make a few inquiries.
The hostess, who was busy in various fizzing and stewing operations over the fire, preparatory to the evening meal, stopped, with a fork in her hand, as Eliza's sweet and plaintive voice arrested her.
" What is it ? " she said.
" Is n't there any ferry or boat, that takes people over to B------, now ? " she said.
"No, indeed ! " said the woman; " the boats has stopped running."
Eliza's look of dismay and disappointment struck the woman, and she said, inquiringly, —
" May be you 're wanting to get over ? — anybody sick Ye seem mighty anxious ? "
"I've got a child that's very dangerous," said Eliza* " I never heard of it till last night, and I 've walked quite a piece to-day, in hopes to get to the ferry."
" Well, now, that's onlucky," said the woman, whose motherly sympathies were much aroused; " I 'm re'lly consarned for ye. Solomon ! " she called, from the window, towards a small back building. A man, in a leather apron and very dirty hands, appeared at the door.
" I say, Sol," said the woman, " is that ar man going to tote them bar'Is over to-night ? "
" He said he should try, if 't was any way prudent," said the man.
" There 's a man a piece down here, that's going over with some truck this evening, if he durs' to ; he '11 be in here to supper to-night, so you 'd better set down and wait. That's a sweet little fellow," added the woman, offering him a cake.
But the child, wholly exhausted, cried with weariness. |
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